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July 16, 2024
 

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Patrick St. Michel
Patrick St. Michel is a Tokyo-based writer with a focus on Japanese music. He runs the blog Make Believe Melodies, which has focused on Japanese independent music since 2009. Besides The Japan Times, he also contributes to MTV 81 and The Atlantic.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
May 6, 2016
Mister Donut masters the croissant-muffin hybrid
Although it hasn't nabbed the same headlines as the Cronut, the Cruffin — a croissant-muffin hybrid invented by Australian baker Kate Reid in 2013 — has achieved modest success in the U.S. Bakery chain Mister Donut has brought the fusion food to Japan (thankfully, they left the clunky "Cruffin" nickname...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 1, 2016
DYGL soaks in New York's garage rock and politics
The life Nobuki Akiyama has been living since moving to the greater New York City area in March sounds like a dream come true for any young musician.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Apr 29, 2016
FamilyMart gives a healthy twist to the tiramisu
For those who want to have their cake and eat it too — without feeling guilty — FamilyMart's new soy berry tiramisu is here to help.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Apr 22, 2016
'Black truffle' potato chips aren't as decadent as they claim to be
A certain level of quality is expected when the words "black truffle" and "bistro" get thrown around — even if they appear on packets of chips in a convenience store. Calbee's Bistro Black Truffle Scented Beef flavored Poterich chips (¥152) promise a lot, but fail to deliver anything special. They...
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Apr 17, 2016
Breaker helps pave a new path to stardom via YouTube
In the days of Japan's bubble economy, the second-level basement of the Fiction Building in Tokyo's Harajuku neighborhood housed a decadent Italian restaurant complete with a grand stairway down to the main dining area, providing every customer the chance to make an entrance. However, the opulent eating...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Apr 15, 2016
You can now eat Miffy's sweet little face at a cafe in Tokyo
A new themed pop-up cafe seems to open every week in Tokyo. Miffy Cafe, on the seventh floor of Shibuya's Parco department store in Tokyo, runs until May 8 and is an especially cute option for those in search of a novelty dining experience centering around the famous Dutch bunny. Dessert-wise, the Miffy...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 13, 2016
Toyomu reimagines Kanye West's 'Life of Pablo' in a creatively fun way
Toyomu — "Imagining 'The Life Of Pablo'" (Self-released)
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Apr 8, 2016
Seven-Eleven's new green-tea doughnut starts sweet but ends bitter
The latest addition to Seven-Eleven's doughnut selection mixes a classic Japanese flavor with one of the convenience store's classic styles.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 3, 2016
Twice carries K-pop's flag into its debut Japanese gig
The halcyon days of Hallyu (the Korean wave) in mainstream media are long over, but the impact South Korean pop culture has had on Japan is still evident. Just look at K-pop outfit Twice, which features three Japanese members and has experienced massive success after debuting late last year.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 3, 2016
Ryoma Suzuki bet on a musically diverse line-up for Unborde — and it paid off
Media attention has become a mixed blessing for Ryoma Suzuki. Unborde, the label he founded in 2010, is currently celebrating five years in the game and will hold a special show at Makuhari Messe on April 10.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Apr 1, 2016
Mom's apple pie gets a new twist at Ringo
Ringo, which recently opened in Tokyo's Ikebukuro area, serves miniature apple pies. Each pie (¥399) is hot and features a glazed exterior that delivers a satisfying crunch.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Mar 25, 2016
Asahi's new sugar-reduced beer is nothing special
Cherry blossom season is upon us, meaning it's time to overindulge in some brews while sprawled out in a park. But who wants to deal with the health-related guilt that comes with Japan's silly season?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 20, 2016
Tominaga's suprise flourishes make repeat listens of 'Echoes of Megaliths' a must
Tominaga "Echoes of Megaliths" (Squiggle Dot)
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Mar 18, 2016
Joel Robuchon welcomes spring to Tokyo with strawberry brioches
It may not be Spring just yet, but French chef Joel Robuchon's Le Pain de Joel Robuchon in the basement of Shibuya's Hikarie shopping complex is celebrating all the same.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Mar 11, 2016
Pocky finds a romantic partner in 'teagurt'
The current cross-band promotion between Glico and Kirin puts the spotlight on romance. By placing a bottle of the latter's "teagurt" beverage next to a package of the former's new Lemon-flavored Pocky, you can make two illustrated figures smooch.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 6, 2016
Japanese bands plan overseas spring offensive
TV Asahi's weekly "Music Station" program has rarely served as a staging ground for exciting young domestic acts in recent years. It has been more of an opportunity to gawk at Johnny's boy bands and test how many members of AKB48 can fit on the interview bench.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Mar 4, 2016
Japan's bearded cream-puff papa tries to replicate the taste of an Oreo
Beard Papa's, a local chain serving cream puffs, always has a few special varieties of its treats available. But the current limited-run cookies-and-cream flavor (¥230) is worth going out of your way for if you've got a sweet tooth.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 28, 2016
City pop revival helps Suchmos at just the right time
Walk into a Tower Records store in Shibuya or Shinjuku and you'll eventually come across the apparel section. The current fashion aesthetic here leans retro: Hoodies and T-shirts come emblazoned with text highlighting throwback music signifiers, from equipment ("cassette tape," "analog") to genres ("surf...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Feb 26, 2016
Don Tacos' new quesadilla chips try to satisfy Mexican food cravings
Finding fantastic Mexican food in Tokyo isn't easy — the hunt to find authentic cuisine seems to consume many non-Japanese living here.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 19, 2016
Omake Club helps Zombie-Chang escape down her own artistic rabbit hole
Midway through our conversation at a dimly lit Shibuya cafe, Meirin Yung offers to break down any song on her recently released album under the name Zombie-Chang. I choose the slacker-inspired "Semete Kanashii Tokiniwa" (loosely translated as "At Least in Sad Times") that served as the advance preview...
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.
How to tweak your diet when temperatures spike
Most people think of hydration as a strictly liquid-based concept, but eating foods with high water content is an essential part of making it through a Japanese summer unscathed.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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